How to file a VA disability claim
Find out how to file a claim for disability compensation
or increased disability compensation.
John Prine, One of America’s Greatest Songwriters, Dead at 73
Grammy-winning singer who combined literary genius with a common touch succumbs to coronavirus complications
His song, Sam Stone, is one of the most poignant and touching war stories ever told.
Written about the Vietnam era soldier, the message affects every veteran.
RIP
You Ready???
Are you aware that Amazon will deliver groceries to you? And often enough they beat in-store prices?
Don't worry that you forgot the dog food.
Shop on!
Your 2020 Guide to Social Security Benefits
Whether you’re claiming Social Security in 2020, have been collecting benefits for years, or are still decades away, here’s what you need to know about this critically important retirement program.
Your state runs County Veterans Service Offices
for you and they're working today.
An IMO by an expert often makes the difference!
How To File a VA Disability Appeal
You have the right to appeal any benefits decision made by the Veterans Benefits Administration. The VA appeals process is set in law and is different from other judicial appeals processes. Find out how to file an appeal.
CraveBox Healthy Care Package
Whole Foods Market
Schwans
Grocery and Gourmet Food Store at Amazon
Food Delivery Online - Deliver Near me All-in-one
Medical Malpractice
Download VA benefit letters
To receive some benefits, Veterans need a letter
proving their status.
For Better Brain Health, Preserve Your Hearing
Hearing loss is the largest modifiable risk factor for developing dementia, exceeding that of smoking, high blood pressure, lack of exercise and social isolation.
I did that for years & it's
the best thing ever. Get
into the belly of the beast.
Do You Need
Medical Care
RIGHT NOW?
You are already authorized
to use an urgent
care clinic!
Answers to your questions on stimulus checks
Are seniors on Social Security or
veterans on disability eligible?
The VAWatchdog
doesn't ask for donations, we don't have fees, we don't ask you to register...you can't find a way to give us your money. We're supported by advertising. When you shop via the VAWatchdog,
we'll get a small piece of that.
You get top quality at a good price and you support our mission.
Thank you!!!
Create or update your will fast / 100% free
Make your will with FreeWill today
Healthcare directives,
proxies, living wills and durable financial power of attorney.
All are free to use.
Is your disability pay fair game in a divorce?
(Yeah, it is...)
Veterans get more banking options,
Some veterans may have better access to banking now, through a partnership between the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Association of Military Banks of America.
Schedule for Rating Disabilities
Which Consumer Lenders Are (and Aren’t) Helping the Most - American Express (cards), Capital One (auto loans and cards) and JPMorgan Chase said they would allow people to skip payments, interest free.
Owe VA Money???
To Loneliness And Isolation For Seniors
Did you know that hearing loss and tinnitus are the
most commonly rated veterans disabilities? Did you
know that hearing loss and tinnitus can cause
other secondary conditions, particularly mental
health problems like depression and loneliness?
Chronic Pain Is an Impossible Problem
A “safe” alternative to opioid painkillers
turns out to be not so safe.
Jim Strickland is a Vietnam era Army veteran and nationally recognized expert on VA disability benefits
and a member of the Stateside Legal Website Advisory Board. Jim's Mailbag, is a regular column where veterans,
servicemembers, and family members can ask Jim their questions about VA and Social Security disability benefits.
You can browse all of these Q&As here, and search the Jim's Mailbag archives for helpful answers.
Just who do you think
you are?
Stats about veterans.
Percent of U.S. adult population who are veterans in 2017, by state
Employment Data for Veterans With Disabilities
Employment Situation of Veterans Summary
Immigrant Veterans in the United States
Demographics of the U.S. Military
Veterans and Military Documents
Military Programs and Benefits
Facts on Veterans and Entrepreneurship
American War and Military Operations
Casualties: Lists and Statistics
Tinnitus and hearing loss among
Veteran Social Security Beneficiaries
Veteran-Owned Businesses and Their Owners
48 Interesting U.S. Military Facts
The American Veteran Experience and the Post-9/11 Generation
National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics - Quick Facts
Global Firepower - 2019 World Military Strength Rankings
Medical Malpractice - Veterans 1151 Claims
Malpractice Attorneys Helping Veterans Harmed By The VA
Veterans Healthcare Rights - Federal Tort Claims -
VA Medical Malpractice Claims, Misdiagnosis, Hospital Negligence, Medical Errors
For a review of your VA malpractice case contact our lawyers today. Our firm serves throughout the nation,
and is one of the few firms to have specialized experience in VA malpractice cases.
Call Now! (949) 640-8222
PAPER Evidence Records
and Claims All Go Here
V A Claims Intake Center
PO BOX 4444
JANESVILLE, WI
53547- 4444
Toll Free Fax:
844-531-7818
Key findings about America’s military veterans
The experiences of post-9/11 veterans differ from
those who served in previous eras. Post-9/11
veterans more likely to have been deployed,
seen combat, experienced emotional trauma
Should I file a claim?
Potential VA claims?
What am I missing in the VA claims process?
Best way to check on a supplemental claim online?
Confused on what to do with claim.
Dependent status with education benefits.
Suing the VA for negligence and malpractice.
You've Arrived at the VAWatchdog Dot Org!
Welcome Home
We've been keeping veterans informed of news and events important to them since 2005.
You'll find all you need to file your claim and referrals to professionals who can help you when things don't go well.
What you won't find here is unending chat or opinions from strangers who like to think of themselves as experts.
Our goal is to ensure that you are awarded the benefits you earned with your service to our country.
We're here to help you take charge of your benefits, and that is all.
Extra schedular ratings under
How can I get an extra schedular rating?
To receive an extra schedular rating the veteran
must first show that the veteran’s
conditions result in a disability picture
that is not covered by the schedule of ratings.
Trump: “We’ll be cutting” entitlement programs
White House: He didn’t really mean that.
Following his Fox News town hall, Stephanie Grisham and Kellyanne Conway denied that Trump said what he said.
C&P Service Clinician’s Guide
Scheduled For A C & P??? Filing A Claim?
This is a must read for you!!!
I've been posting this again and again over the years
and it's still one of the best ways I know to win
your case. Published in 2002 the principles and much of
the verbiage still applies and is in daily use at the VA.
VA Urgent Care Pharmacy Locations
Find VA-approved urgent care/retail location
pharmacies near a specific
address or ZIP code, or search by VA Facility.
Gregory M. Rada - A Veteran for Veterans
Focusing on appeals involving psychiatric conditions
and/or individual unemployability (TDIU)
Proven Results • Direct Communication • No Fees Unless You Win
Nationwide Representation
Free Phone Consultations - (844) 838-7529
Vittles for Vets feeding veterans during
coronavirus outbreak
Volunteers delivering groceries to veterans’ homes
Inside The VA’s Fight Against COVID-19
'I'm wearing the same mask three days in a row' — VA workers detail what it's like on the frontline of COVID-19
The Department of Veterans Affairs was unprepared for the country's novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak,
and VA employees say the nation’s largest integrated healthcare system continues to
struggle with how to respond as hundreds of employees and veterans test positive for the virus.
Opinion: There'll Be No Social Security COLA in 2021
Social Security beneficiaries are unlikely to receive a "raise" next year because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Craig Bash M.D., MBA The Veterans Medical Advisor
If you are an honorably discharged veteran, you served your country well and you earned certain benefits. Sad to say, sometimes it can be difficult for the veteran to obtain the earned benefits guaranteed by law. Veterans need a recognized medical expert who knows the VA system. As a disabled veteran himself and a respected, board certified physician, Dr. Bash fits the need—and adds even further insight as a VA-accredited service organization representative.
Call 925-381-7561 Email drbash@doctor.com
How to Access Social Security Benefits During
the Coronavirus Pandemic
Social Security offices are closed.
Here’s how to get help with your benefit.
Thomas J. Seiter, Jr., M.D.
Independent Medical Opinions
Service & Civilian Medical Record Reviews
Nexus Letters
Get In Touch With Dr. Seiter
IRS Guidance on Stimulus Payments
Contradicts CARES Act, Senators Warn
They urged the IRS to correct the guidance, which
states that Social Security recipients
can't get a check without filing a tax return.
Spine Pain Independent Medical Opinion
James Shields, MD, MBA, is a Board-Certified Physician with over 25 years clinical experience in pain management, anesthesiology and emergency medicine. The Spine & Chronic Pain & Nerve Injuries
Are Our Focus: Spine pain, Weakness, Stiffness, Neck or cervical Pain, Fibromyalgia, Intervertebral Disc Syndrome, Decreased Range of Motion, Degenerative Arthritis of the Spine, Hip Pain or Weakness, Shoulder Pain or Weakness...PAIN!
Just Do It Yourself!
Web Automated Reference Material System
Compensation and Pension Materials
APRIL 2020...VA Announces that the DBQ Form is history to you.
Of course VA will still continue to saddle their employees and sub-contractors who have to slog through all the unnecessary C & P exams that VA metes out with completing the DBQ but at least you don't have to deal with it.
The DBQ form was the least useful and most disliked bit of the entire claims process so good riddance.
VA will still rely on the C & P exam to make decisions about your claim. The C & P exam will continue to be given to you by people who do not have the necessary credentials to render an opinion about your physical and mental health. VA is using nurses in place of doctors and technicians to replace nurses...you are not going to get a great C & P exam if you allow VA to have the last word.
In the not-so-distant past we urged veterans who were denied a benefit to get and pay for an Independent Medical Opinion to support their claim. The IMO wins cases. There is just no way to dispute the fact that if you go in with a well written IMO you will win your claim with little fuss.
Today we urge veterans to get the IMO done now, before you need it. If you go into your claim with an IMO that supports what you are claiming, you have increased your chances of winning by a huge margin. If you have been denied and you're facing an appeal, an IMO is almost mandatory.
The expert IMO is an investment into the rest of your life. What are you waiting for?
How veterans can get coronavirus
tests through the VA, Tricare
Use these tips for getting a COVID-19 test
at a Veterans Affairs facility
Leaked Emails Show That While The VA
Announced It Had Adequate Coronavirus Gear,
A Major VA Hospital Was Rationing
Less than 30 minutes after the Veterans Affairs headquarters announced it had adequate equipment, staffers in LA were told to start rationing masks.
Since Veterans Affairs leaders reported the first death of a VA patient from coronavirus in mid-March, the
number of positive cases — and fatalities — in the department’s health system has risen dramatically.
PTSD, MST, TBI,
Agent Orange Exposure, Back Injuries
Gulf War Syndrome, Migraines, Heart & Vascular Disease,
DIC, Unemployability TDIU
Free Veterans Disability Consultation! Call Now! (800) 742-5035
Commentary: Veterans among most
at risk during virus outbreak
Congress must make sure our veterans can get the
care they need for therapies and a vaccine.
Coronavirus $1,200 stimulus check: Find out if you're eligible, how to get your payment from the IRS
The government's coronavirus economic relief package includes stimulus payments to a majority of US taxpayers. Here's what you need to know.
Veterans Law At Your Service
PTSD and other mental impairments
Military Sexual Trauma
Traumatic Brain Injury
Agent Orange exposure
Camp Lejeune water contamination
Gulf War Syndrome
Asbestos or Radiation exposure
Federal Tort Claims/Title 38 U.S.C. 1151
Also known as FTCA and Section 1151 Claims
844 244 VETS (8387)
Veterans PTSD Assessments
Independent Medical Opinions
Thomas Grieder, MD, PhD
Twenty five years service as a VA psychiatrist
Assistant Professor and Associate Clinical Professor
UCLA Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences
Lead psychiatrist for the East Los Angeles PTSD Clinical Team
The Law Offices of David Anaise, MD JD
Board Certified Physician/Surgeon Accredited Veterans Law Attorney Military Veteran
DRO, BVA, CAVC Appeals Nexus Letters Independent Medical Opinions
Has Your Claim Been Denied? Do you need an IMO?
You'll need to speak with an expert physician and then a veterans law attorney.
Why not speak with both at the same time?
(520) 219-7321 Free Case Evaluation (520) 219-7344
Submit a waiver or compromise request here
What are C&P Examinations?
What are options for conducting C&P Examinations?
Why has VA decided to suspend the in-person
examination option?
What can I do to assist with my claim?
Veterans Psych Evaluations
Brett Valette, Ph.D.
Providing Military Veterans Personalized Psychological and Medical Evaluations. Complete the Contact form, and you'll get a personal phone call from us. We listen, and want to know what you are going through. We provide Independent Medical Evaluations (IME), Independent Medical Opinions (IMO) and nexus letters for ratings reviews, secondary conditions, medical conditions, discharge upgrades, and many types of denied claims. We also provide Social Security Disability claim reports.
Some Wounds Can't Be Seen Contact Us Today
Disabled veterans could get left out of
stimulus money, lawmakers warn
Dozens of lawmakers and advocates are concerned that a “significant” number of disabled veterans and surviving family members will never receive the direct payments Congress approved as part of a sweeping bill to support Americans during the coronavirus pandemic.
The NPRC
Military Records DD 214
Announcing the Veterans Benefits Banking Program
A partnership between VA and the
Association of Military Banks of America
Urgent Care Centers
One of the most important benefits you have today is
the authorization to use an urgent care center
near to you. But first, you have to
to take with you. Don't wait until you need this
benefit to prepare for it. Read this now,
print your papers and be prepared!
Call before visiting your VA facility
Free Veteran resources through PATRIOTlink
and Coronavirus updates
VA Releases Survivors Quick Start Guide
Reference guide to help during final
arrangements planning
What You Should Know about Disability and Debt
There Are Protections...When it comes to debt collection, disability income enjoys special status.
Welcome to the KnowVA Knowledge Base
Locate information more quickly and efficiently
How to ensure seamless care while traveling
Drew Early Veterans Law Attorney
Graduate of the US Military Academy, West Point
Adjunct Professor - Emory University Law School
20 Years Army Service - Airborne - Explosive Ordnance Badge
Free Case Review - Nationwide Representation
BVA/DRO Appeals - Fiduciary & Caregiver Issues, Trusts, Wills
Appeals of Veterans & Survivor Claims
(770) 939-1939
Medical Marijuana Card
Tell the doctor you saw it on VAWatchdog
and ask about veterans discounts!
We get $2,470 a month from Social Security
and want a warm, friendly city near the ocean.
VA launches online patient portal for veterans
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
announced the launch of an online patient portal
this month that will provide service veterans
with digital access to their patient statements.
Why Getting a Diagnosis Matters
A diagnosis does so much more than get noted in your medical history. It also can help you apply for programs like Social Security Disability and medical marijuana cards. And maybe even more importantly, it can help you explain yourself to friends, colleagues and family.
The Next, Terrible Phase of This Crisis
After cancellation comes triage
VA Health Care Public Health Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)
What you should know
VA is working closely with The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other federal partners, monitoring an outbreak of Novel Coronavirus first identified in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China.
Roger Hale, Veterans Law Attorney
Personal Injury Lawyer - Free Consultation For Veterans
Industrial Accidents Nursing Home Negligence Car Accidents
Workers Compensation Veterans Law
Pain & Suffering Emotional & Mental Anguish
(405) 531-9983
Amazon Is Putting Book Deliveries Into the
Slow Lane Thanks to the Coronavirus
The retail giant is prioritizing household
and medical supplies, and pushing
everything else to the back of the queue.
How Do You Apply For Social Security Disability Benefits?
Information on social security disability benefits
8 Museums You Can Virtually Tour Right Now
Visit famous institutions in Paris, Amsterdam,
and more—without leaving home.
Regional Offices' Public Contact Closures
The Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) Regional Offices will be closed to the public starting March 19.
Regional offices will remain open, but will no longer accept walk-ins for claims assistance, scheduled appointments, counseling and other in-person services.
Coronavirus distancing: Don't forget about veterans.
For them, loneliness can be deadly.
Legislation already exists to get our service members
the help they need through animal companions.
We must make sure it passes and soon.
Misuse of Certain Nonopioid Analgesics on the Rise
Gabapentin, Baclofen May Be Seen
as Opioid Alternatives
Google Tracks You
and we don't.
DuckDuckGo apps block
Google's hidden trackers.
The world needs an alternative
Robert Wilkie <robert.wilkie@va.gov> 855-948-2311
One More Reason You Need An Independent Medical Opinion
VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
Accuracy of Claims Decisions Involving Conditions of the Spine
A coronavirus outbreak aboard an aircraft carrier is one of
the possibilities facing the US military
How would the Navy react if a sailor aboard a large ship such as an aircraft carrier tested positive for the coronavirus?
'How To Lie With Statistics'
Con artists may try to get your Medicare
Number or personal information so they can steal
your identity and commit Medicare fraud.
Lodging & Camping in southern Illinois with access to the Shawnee National
We offer lodging, camping,
stabling, corral, pasture,
access to a hunting lease and
discounts for America's
military veterans!
Social Security recipients who don’t usually
file tax returns will automatically get $1,200
payments, Treasury says in reversal
Most high school seniors and college
students still won’t get any money at all.
Nexus and IMO Letters
Florida veterans health centers moving to virtual appointments to combat coronavirus
to stay home and avoid exposure
How To Get Urgent Care For Free
You are authorized urgent care but you must be prepared!
How Divorce, Alimony, and Child Support
Affect Veterans' VA Benefits
VA benefits can be garnished only for spousal
or child support, and only under certain conditions.